In 1972, Congress passed the proposed ERA (originally introduced in 1923) that stated equality of rights under law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.

As of today, the ERA has failed to be ratified by the 38 states necessary to include it as an amendment of the United States Constitution. A map of those states who have failed to ratify the ERA in the last four decades shows a clear pattern. Almost all of these states are in the South, including Arkansas. Why?

The leading argument against ratification is that it will cause fundamental changes in how we address issues like same-sex marriage and abortion. Will adoption of the ERA result in rippling effects in Arkansas, the South and American Society? You can bet on it!

Women and men will legally be equals. I have a son and two daughters. How do I explain to my daughters that, beyond the right to vote, they may not have the same constitutional protections as their brother because of their gender? Will we have to have discussions and make decisions that are difficult once the ERA passes? Yes, but this is how progress works. We must accept new voices into the dialogue even if we don’t always accept the new argument. I can only hope the answer is no and encourage everyone to contact our state legislators. Let’s not let another century slip away before we recognize men and women as equals.

Audra Butler

Russellville

Universal background checks

I just read that VP Biden has started to put pressure on senators to support the Democrats gun control bills, including one to institute universal background checks.

I firmly oppose background checks. Current FFL(Federal Firearms License) holders are required to keep background check forms on file. Who will be required to keep the background check forms for private sales? Who will have to pay for the background checks? Will background checks be required for all transfers, such as giving a firearm to a family member? Are background checks effective?

According to a report titled “Enforcement of the Brady Act, 2010: Federal and State Investigations and Prosecutions of Firearm Applicants Denied by a NICS Check in 2010” that was authored by Ronald J. Frandsen and funded by taxpayers through the U.S. Department of Justice and received in August 2012, 6,000,000 checks were done. 72,659 (1.2 percent) were initially refused. 3,491 of those were reversed. The FBI declined to prosecute 4,184 cases. The BATFE referred 62 cases for prosecution. 44 were actually prosecuted. That’s 44 out of 6 Million! Well worth the effort, don’t you think?

The same Joe Biden who is asking our senators to pass new gun control laws said, “We don’t have time to prosecute everybody who lies” on background checks. But they’ll have time to enforce the new laws? My source for the above is: freedomoutpost.com/2013/01/joe-biden-we-dont-have-time-to-prosecute-everybody-who-lies-on-background-checks/#ixzz2PKej9x6u

Michael Brannick

London

Justification

Anyone who says America has problems but we’re on the road to recovery is, at a minimum, not paying attention.

Remember the dire predictions of what would happen if “Sequestration” wasn’t repealed? Thousands of teachers and government workers unemployed, air traffic control cutbacks and airline delays, inadequate border and airport security just to name a few. None of these predictions seem to have happened so far despite the “Chicken Little” like announcements. One cutback has happened.

White House tours have been canceled due to a lack of funds for security. Are they kidding us? This is a major cost savings and worth disappointing thousands of school children that take the tour annually?

But hold on a minute, the White House has just announced they will host two musical concerts this month. One called Memphis Soul, and another concert to celebrate Michelle Obama’s birthday. There is money for the eight vacations taken by the Obamas and Biden, and two Spring Break trips for Obama’s children. Two trips? And now money for White House concerts but not tours for children in the “People’s House”? I would love to hear their justification for this.

John Cooper

Russellville

Trash in the city

Got a smart phone, iPad, tablet, GPS? Go to Google and type in 2203 S. Knoxville Ave. and follow the directions. As you turn onto S. Knoxville, start looking to your right then left. Notice anything? No? Keep going, keep looking, Anything yet? How about the abundance of trash in the ditches.

Isn’t it ironic that as you drive toward the multi-million dollar complex that is the Center for the Arts, you pass by some of the filthiest ditches in Russellville?

Events such as All Region Band, All Region Choir, Christeens, a forensic tournament, an Eden’s Edge concert, the Men of Faith conference, and the upcoming Kris Allen concert bring people from across the state to our city. Most will drive to the complex on S. Knoxville. What will they think?

Which tax receiving office is in charge of keeping ditches clean and open for drainage of rain water? Should we have to call them to get the job dome?

Thank you to M&S Wholesale and Altman’s Body Shop for taking the time to pick up your ditches, even though you pay taxes for the upkeep of your city, and is it not your responsibility. Well done.

Rebecca Cooper

London

Tricare for life

I am writing in response to a letter that said that the Tricare prime was being taken away form military retirees. We retirees have Tricare for life, a program enacted by the congress and if taken away it would need the approval of the congress. I feel that the writer of this letter was misinformed.

President Obama could not discontinue this by administrative order, since it was enacted by the congress it would have to be taken away by the congress.

If indeed it is taken away it would be because the law was overturned by the congress. Now I am not saying that it will not be overturned by the congress because we now have enough Republicans in the congress to do just that. I read all of these military books and I never saw this in the April VFW magazine.

Mr. Laymon is normally correct in his comments, but he is not this time. Tri-Care Prime for retirees in this area is being changed to Tri-Care Standard effective Oct. 1, 2013. This is one of the cuts the Pentagon is pushing on us in order to meet new budget constraints. Military retirees under the age of 65 have been on Prime since the late 1990s as I recall. While it had no deductible, it did have an annual fee and a co-pay. Standard has a deductible, but no annual fee. I called Tri-Care about this issue and what I have explained here is what I was told by Tri-Care.